JP2022089570A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To newly realize a printer capable of appropriately performing skew correction even in a state where a physical guide cannot be expected for a paper roll.
SOLUTION: A paper 1 unwound from a paper roll R loaded in a paper feed roller 2 is sandwiched and conveyed by a main transfer roller 3 while printing is performed on the paper 1 at a printing position PL, and a printed area A1 is vertically cut. A vertical cutting unit SU that introduces the printer main body PB that is cut and discharged by the cutter 13 and the paper 1 in the ejection process via the vertical cutting guide 11 in the width direction, and cuts the paper 1 by the vertical cutting cutter 13 while being sandwiched by the auxiliary transport roller 12. And a control unit CU that controls the printer main body PB and the vertical cutting unit SU. Then, the control unit CU holds the paper 1 between the auxiliary transport rollers 12 and drives the paper feed roller 2 in the winding direction of the paper 1 with the main transport roller 3 open, whereby the paper tip portion 1 (S) The slack of the paper 1 is tensioned between the paper roll and the paper roll, and the auxiliary transfer roller 12 is released from the tensioned state to execute the skew correction control for correcting the skew of the paper 1.
[Selection diagram] FIG. 6

Description

The present invention relates to a printer capable of outputting a narrow-sized mini-printed matter by cutting a required position in the paper width direction with a vertical cutting cutter.

Conventionally, as a printer of this type, the one shown in Patent Document 1 is known.
As shown in FIG. 8, this printer mainly conveys the paper feed roller 2 loaded with the paper roll R and feeds the paper 1 toward the printing position PL, and the paper 1 fed from the paper roll R at a predetermined speed. The transport means 3, a pair of supply-side bobbins 5a and take-up-side bobbins 5b arranged to supply the ribbon 4 together with the paper 1 to the printing position PL, and a platen roller 6 arranged below the paper 1 at the printing position PL. And the print head 7 that prints on the paper 1 in a state where the paper 1 and the ink ribbon 4 are press-contacted with the platen roller 6 and are arranged so as to be detachable above the paper 1 with respect to the platen roller 6. A paper ejection means 8 for sandwiching and ejecting the paper 1 and a cross-cutting cutter 9 for cutting the paper 1 before ejection to a required length are provided.

As shown in FIG. 9, the paper feed roller 2 is provided with disk-shaped paper guides 2b on both sides of the shaft portion 2a. The paper roll R has a central portion supported by the shaft portion 2a and both side portions are paper guides. It is loaded while being sandwiched between b.

For printing, the paper 1 once unwound from the paper roll R in the paper ejection direction (direction of arrow A in FIG. 8) is conveyed by the main transport means 3 in the anti-paper ejection direction (printing B direction) opposite to the paper ejection direction. It is done while.

The paper 1 after printing is cut by the cross-cutting cutter 9. The paper 1 after cutting is discharged by the auxiliary transport means 12.

In addition, this printer is provided with a vertical cutting cutter 13 downstream of the horizontal cutting cutter 9 in order to diversify the print size. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the vertical cutting cutter 13 cuts a required portion in the paper width direction, and the area (printed matter) U of the cut paper 1 to be printed and becomes a printed matter is The unprinted area is configured to be transferred to the trash can as an unnecessary portion V to the printed matter outlet. Reference numeral 14 in the figure is a separation mechanism for separating the unnecessary portion V from the printed matter U, changing the route, and guiding the unnecessary portion V to the trash can.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-104655

By the way, conventionally, as the paper 1, a roll of plain paper having a general thickness has been used. As the size of the roll paper, one wound in a diameter capable of printing a predetermined number of sheets (for example, around 350 screens) when counted by a normal paper size (for example, A4 size) is generally used.

On the other hand, since the printer provided with the function of the vertical cutting cutter 13 can reduce the width of the printed matter, it is also used for mini-printing applications such as 3.25 inches × 2.75 inches. For mini-print applications, thick paper looks better like an instant photograph, so it is very important to have the ability to handle thick paper in order to improve the commercial value of the printer.

However, the capacity of the consumable paper roll R, that is, the number of printed sheets is the same as before, and when the paper becomes thicker, the diameter of the paper roll R becomes the diameter of the plain paper paper roll R shown in FIG. It will be larger than that.

Conventionally, this type of paper roll R has been set between the left and right paper guides 2b and 2b, and the paper guide 2b serves as a physical guide to feed the paper 1. However, as shown in FIG. 11, when the diameter of the paper roll R becomes large, the paper roll R protrudes from the paper guide 2b, and the paper 1 is fed out from a position not guided by the paper guide 2b. As a result, the feeding position of the paper 1 may be displaced to the left or right, or winding meandering may occur when the paper 1 is wound on the paper roll R.

As a result, as shown by an arrow in FIG. 11, a phenomenon occurs in which the paper skews from the tip of the paper to the feeding position of the paper roll, and the paper 1 also skews at the position of the vertical cutting cutter 13 shown in FIG. Therefore, a new problem arises in which the positional accuracy of the slit S formed at this position is lowered.

An object of the present invention is to newly realize a printer capable of appropriately performing skew correction even in a state where physical guide by a paper guide cannot be expected for a paper roll.

The present invention has taken the following measures in order to achieve the above object.

That is, the printer of the present invention prints on paper at the printing position while sandwiching the paper unwound from the paper roll loaded in the paper feed roller and transporting it by the main transport roller, and cuts the printed paper with a cross-cutting cutter. The printer main body to be ejected, the vertical cutting unit that introduces the paper in the ejection process via the vertical cutting guide in the width direction and cuts it with the vertical cutting cutter while sandwiching it with the auxiliary transport roller, and these printer main body and vertical cutting unit. A printer having a control unit for controlling, wherein the control unit holds the paper between the auxiliary transport rollers and drives the paper feed roller in the paper winding direction in a state where the main transport roller is open. It is characterized in that it is configured to execute a skew correction control that corrects the skew of the paper by tensioning the slack of the paper between the paper tip and the paper roll and releasing the auxiliary transport roller from the tensioned state. do.

By doing so, the paper is tensioned by winding the slack between the paper tip and the paper roll with the paper roll while the paper tip is positioned in the width direction in the vertical cutting guide and fixed by the auxiliary transport roller. Can be made to. After that, when the auxiliary transport roller is opened, the difference in the balance between the left and right tension applied to the paper is released, and the skew can be corrected by using the force that the paper tries to return to the correct position. .. In order to take advantage of such a phenomenon, it is effective to stretch the paper at two points as far apart as possible, so it is effective to stretch the paper between the tip of the paper and the roll paper. In particular, due to the narrow vertical cutting guide, when the paper is stretched, when the paper skew amount is large, it becomes a fulcrum of the paper, or even if the skew amount is small, the paper when the auxiliary transport roller is opened. The effect of suppressing runout can also be expected. Therefore, skew can be corrected even by using thick paper having a large diameter, and the position accuracy in the width direction of the slit formed by the cross-cutting cutter can be improved, and a highly accurate vertical-cutting slit can be realized.

In this case, the paper feed roller is driven in the paper winding direction to tension the paper, and then the paper is sandwiched between the main transport rollers to maintain the tension state of the paper when the auxiliary transport rollers are opened. You may try to do it.

Even if the paper is stretched at two points, the paper tip and the main transport roller, a sufficient distance can be secured to correct the skew.

In particular, it is desirable that the paper feed roller is provided with a paper guide at a position sandwiching both sides of the paper roll, and that the paper feed roller is equipped with a paper roll having a diameter larger than that of the paper guide.

Since the present invention can perform skew straightening without relying on a paper guide, skew straightening can be performed in principle without using a paper guide at all, but by adopting a paper guide, roll paper having a diameter smaller than a certain diameter can be obtained. On the other hand, physical positioning in the width direction is possible, and the skew correction function can be enhanced.

At the time of initial filling of the paper roll, it is desirable that the skew correction control is executed in the preparatory operation when the preparatory operation for cutting the skin portion, which is one round of the outer circumference of the paper, is performed.

Since it is most likely that the feeding position from the paper roll is skewed at the time of initial filling, it is effective to apply the skew correction control of the present invention in the preparatory operation.

When color printing on one print area is performed by transporting the paper a plurality of times in the forward and reverse directions, the skew correction control is performed every time color printing on one print area is completed or to a plurality of print areas. It is desirable to execute after each color printing of.

In the color printing process, skew may occur even when the paper is reciprocated. Therefore, it is possible to apply the skew correction control of the present invention to one or more printing areas (screens) at the timing when color printing is completed. It becomes valid.

The drive system of the vertical cutting unit is independent of the drive system of the printer main body, and it is desirable that the control unit controls the drive system of the vertical cutting unit and the drive system of the printer main body to perform necessary synchronization. ..

By using an independent drive system in this way, it is possible to mount a vertical cutting unit on an existing printer in a space-saving and inexpensive manner. Then, as a secondary effect of driving the vertical cutting unit and the printer main body independently, it is possible to realize the skew correction operation of the present invention. In other words, if the drive system of the vertical cutting unit is connected to the drive system of the printer main body, the skew correction of the present invention cannot be realized or it is necessary to intervene a special mechanism, but the present invention has such a concern. Is no longer needed.

It is desirable that the vertical cutting unit be retrofitted to the printer body.

The drivetrain is inevitably independent, even if it is retrofitted or because it is retrofitted. In other words, it is easy to realize skew correction by software because it is retrofitted.

According to the present invention described above, it is possible to provide a new and useful printer capable of appropriately performing skew correction even in a state where physical guide by a paper guide cannot be expected for a paper roll. ..

The schematic side view which shows the structure of the printer of this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the internal configuration of FIG. 1 from above along the paper. The figure which shows the relationship between the ink ribbon sent to a printing position, and the paper. FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. The figure which shows the modification of FIG. The explanatory view of the skew correction control which concerns on this embodiment. The flowchart which shows the procedure of the skew correction control which concerns on this embodiment. Schematic side view showing the configuration of a conventional printer. The figure which shows the paper feed roller of the printer. The figure which shows the vertical cut function of the printer. The figure corresponding to FIG. 9 explaining the malfunction of the conventional printer.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing the configuration of the printer of the present embodiment, FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the internal configuration of FIG. 1 from above along the paper 1, and FIG. 3 is fed to the printing position PL. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the ink ribbon 4 and the paper 1.

This printer P includes a printer main body PB and a vertical cutting unit SU.

The printer main body PB includes a paper feed roller 2 loaded with a paper roll R and feeds the paper 1 toward the printing position PL, and a main transport roller which is a main transport means for transporting the paper 1 fed from the paper roll R at a predetermined speed. 3, a pair of supply-side bobbins 5a and take-up-side bobbins 5b arranged to supply the ribbon 4 together with the paper 1 to the print position PL, and a platen roller 6 arranged below the paper 1 at the print position PL. A print head 7 that prints on the paper 1 with the paper 1 and the ink ribbon 4 pressed against the platen roller 6 so as to be in contact with and detachable from above the paper 1 and the paper. A paper ejection roller 8 which is a paper ejection means for sandwiching 1 and ejecting paper, a cross-cutting cutter 9 which cuts the paper 1 before ejection to a required length, and a control for transporting the paper 1 and energizing the print head 7. The control unit CU is provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the paper feed roller 2 is provided with disk-shaped paper guides 2b on both sides of the shaft portion 2a, and the paper roll R has its central portion supported by the shaft portion 2a and both side portions are paper guides. It is loaded into the paper feed roller 2 in a state of being sandwiched between 2b. The paper feed roller 2 is connected to a motor (not shown) and is driven when it is necessary to feed or rewind the paper 1 from the paper roll R.

The main transport roller 3 shown in FIG. 1 includes a feed roller 3a and a main pinch roller 3b. The feed roller is connected to a motor (not shown) independently of the paper feed roller 2, and the main pinch roller 3b can be brought into contact with and detached from the feed roller 3a via the paper 1, and the feed roller 3a is pressed into contact with the feed roller 3a. The paper 1 is sandwiched between the paper 1 and the paper 1 to transmit the carrying force. The feed roller 3a has a function of driving the paper 1 in the forward and reverse directions to convey the paper 1 at a predetermined speed.

The bobbins 5a and 5b are arranged on both sides of the print position PL along the transport direction of the paper 1, an unused ribbon 4 is sent from the supply side bobbin 5a to the print position PL, and the ribbon 4 used for printing is wound up. It is wound up on the side bobbin 5b.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the ink ribbon 2, regions coated with Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and OP (overcoat) dyes are repeatedly formed in the length direction. Hereinafter, the color print layer printed by the ink ribbon 2 is referred to as "CLR".

The print head 7 shown in FIG. 1 is arranged so as to be able to move up and down with respect to the platen roller 6, and heats the link ribbon 4 based on the print information (image information) sent from the control unit CU in a pressure contact state to transfer ink to the paper 1. Transfer.

The paper ejection roller 8 includes a transport roller 8a and a pinch roller 8b. The transfer roller 8a is connected to a motor (not shown) independently of the paper feed roller 2 and the like, and the pinch roller 8b is made to be in contact with and detachable from the transfer roller 8a via the paper 1, and the transfer roller 8b is brought into contact with the transfer roller 8a by pressure contact. The paper 1 is sandwiched between the paper 1 and the paper 1 to transmit the transport force in the paper ejection direction to the paper 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cross-cutting cutter 9 crosses the paper 1 in the width direction and cuts the paper 1 in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction.

The control unit CU is composed of a normal microcomputer unit equipped with a CPU, a memory and an interface, and the memory includes a printer including the skew correction operation of the present invention through control of the printer main body PB, the vertical cutting unit SU and the like. The program and data necessary to execute the operation of are stored. As a basic control during printing, the paper 1 once fed from the paper roll R in the paper feeding direction (direction of arrow A in FIG. 1) is fed by the main transport roller 3 together with the ink ribbon 4 in the printing direction opposite to the ejection direction (FIG. 1). These are sent to the printing position PL while being conveyed in the direction of the middle arrow B), and printing is performed on the required portion of the paper 1 based on the printing information given from the outside.

As shown in FIG. 3, the same printing area of the paper 1 to be printed is reciprocated between the printing start position 1 (P) and the printing end position 1 (Q), and is conveyed at the start of each printing. The head of the ink ribbon 4 is replaced with Y, M, C, and OP as shown in (a) to (d) in the figure, and the print head 7 heads down in a state where it is superimposed on the paper 1 (P) at the printing start position. , The color print layer CLR and the overcoat layer OP are printed while the paper 1 and the ink ribbon 4 are simultaneously conveyed. Until the overcoat layer OP is printed, the print head 7 heads up after printing is completed, and only the paper 1 is returned from the printing end position 1 (Q) to the printing start position 1 (P), leaving the ink ribbon 4. ..

After printing up to the overcoat layer OP for one print area is completed, the paper 1 is sent out to the paper ejection port 10 side of the printer main body PB shown in FIG. 2 by the paper ejection roller 8 shown in FIG. The cross-cutting cutter 9 operates in the paper width direction at the feeding position, and the printed area A1 and the unprinted area A2 are cut off.

On the other hand, the vertical cutting unit SU shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is attached to the printer main body PB afterwards, and includes a vertical cutting guide 11 for receiving the paper 1 discharged from the paper ejection port 10 of the printer main body PB. A pair of auxiliary transport rollers 12 which are auxiliary transport means for transporting the paper 1 introduced from the vertical cutting guide 11 in the vertical cutting unit SU, and a vertical cutting cutter 13 located between the pair of auxiliary transport rollers 12. Be prepared.

The vertical cutting guide 11 has a tapered shape that gradually narrows along the transport direction in order to position the paper 1 in the width direction while receiving the paper 1. The paper guide 11'also exists in the printer main body PB, but the vertical cutting guide 11 of the vertical cutting unit US is narrower than the paper guide 11'of the printer main body PB.

The auxiliary transfer roller 12 includes an auxiliary drive transfer roller 12a located below the paper 1 and an auxiliary pinch roller 12b above the paper that can be brought into contact with and detached from the auxiliary drive transfer roller 12a. The auxiliary drive transfer roller 12a is connected to a motor independent of the feed roller 3a of the printer main body PB, the transfer roller 8a of the paper ejection roller 8, and the paper feed roller 2, and the elevating motor of the auxiliary pinch roller 12b is also the printer main body PB. It is connected to a motor independent of the main pinch roller 3b, the pinch roller 8b of the paper ejection roller 8, and the elevating motor of the print head 7.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. FIG. 4A is a diagram showing how a region (printed matter) U that becomes a printed matter after being cut by the vertical cutting cutter 13 is led out to a printed matter ejection port, and FIG. 4B is a diagram showing how the region (printed matter) U is led out to the printed matter ejection port, and FIG. It is a figure which showed the appearance that the unnecessary part V which becomes the dust which was not subjected to printing is drawn out to the dust box by the separation mechanism 14. The vertical cutting cutter 13 cuts the paper 1 in the vertical direction between the lower cutter 13a on the lower surface side of the paper and the upper cutter 13b on the upper surface side of the paper to form a slit S, and the lower cutter 13a and the upper cutter 13b form a slit S. They are held in the holders Ha and Hb, respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, the holders Ha and Hb synchronously move the cutters 13a and 13b into a standby position 13 (A) that does not interfere with the passage of the paper 1 and a required position 13 (B) in the paper width direction that requires vertical cutting. It is said that it can be moved to and from. The movement from the standby position (A) to the required position 13 (B) is performed before the paper 1 reaches the position where vertical cutting is required.

The illustrated example has one vertical cutting cutter 13, but as shown in FIG. 5, two sets of vertical cutting cutters 13 are provided, and they are moved from the standby position 13 (A) to different cutting positions 13 (B). It is also possible to configure the paper 1 to be cut into three parts.

The position of the slit S generated by the vertical cut is based on print information (for example, photo print print information) given from the outside. That is, when it is determined from the print information how many inches of the printed image is and which position of the paper 1 is the print area, the position of the slit S for vertical cutting is specified, so that the control unit CU determines the vertical cutting cutter. 13 is moved to the position of the slit S to perform vertical cutting.

After cutting with the vertical cutting cutter 13, the area (printed matter) U that becomes the printed matter obtained by applying the required printing to the printed area passes through the regular route as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4A, and finally the vertical cutting unit. Derived to the printed matter outlet of SU. On the other hand, in order to send the unnecessary portion V, which becomes dust, to the route for accommodating the waste portion V in the trash can, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4B, the unnecessary portion V is discharged while being separated from the printed matter region U. A separation mechanism 14 for changing the route is provided.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 (b), and 10, the separation mechanism 14 is attached to the upper holder Hb that holds the upper cutter 13b downstream of the vertical cutting cutter 13, and is a position where the vertical cutting is cut. It is arranged so as to press a position separated by a predetermined distance in the width direction from the above, and operates together with the upper cutter while maintaining the positional relationship. Then, it is configured to move from the position shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 4B, which does not interfere with the paper 1, to the position where the paper 1 is pressed downward by rotating around the axis m. The contact surface of the separation mechanism 14 with the paper 1 is a smooth curved surface that smoothly guides the paper 1 downward. As a result, the unnecessary portion V is separated from the region (printed matter) U that becomes the printed matter, and is guided in the direction toward the trash can.

When the end of the printed area A1 shown in FIG. 2 reaches the position of the cross-cutting cutter 9 during the vertical cutting by the vertical cutting cutter 13, the cross-cutting cutter 9 cuts between the printed area A1 and the unprinted area A2. do. After that, the remaining vertical cuts are completed while feeding the paper 1 by the auxiliary transport roller 12. As a result, the area to be the printed matter (printed matter) U is cut out as a mini print.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numerals 15 and 15'are sensors for detecting the tip of the paper.

In the above configuration, the present embodiment is shown in FIG. 1 in order to deal with the fact that the physical skew of the paper 1 cannot be physically skewed by the paper guide 2b due to the roll thickness of the paper roll R shown in FIG. Using the auxiliary transfer roller 12 in the vertical cutting unit SU, the paper feed roller 2 in the printer main body PB, and the vertical cutting guide 11 in the vertical cutting unit SU shown in FIG. 2, skew correction is performed by the control unit CU. It is configured in.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the basic method of this skew correction control is to hold the paper 1 between the auxiliary transport rollers 12 and to use the paper feed roller 2 for the paper 1 with the main transport roller 3 open. Drive in the winding direction. As a result, the slack of the paper 1 is strained between the paper tip portion 1 (S) and the paper roll R. Then, the auxiliary transport roller 12 is opened. As a result, if there is a skew on the paper 1, the skew is corrected together.

Hereinafter, the skew correction procedure will be described. The skew correction control is executed at the timing when the paper roll R is replaced and the timing when printing on one or a plurality of printing areas with respect to the paper 1 is completed.

The procedure for replacing the paper roll R is as follows.

First, a cover (not shown) of the printer main body PB shown in FIG. 1 is opened. In this state, the print head 7, the main pinch roller 3b of the main transfer roller 3, the auxiliary pinch roller 12b of the auxiliary transfer roller 12, and the pinch roller 8b of the discharge roller 8 are up, unlike the state shown in FIG. Therefore, the paper roll R is set, the paper tip portion 1 (S) is fed out from the paper roll R, manually fed to the paper ejection port 10 of the printer main body PB shown in FIG. 2, and further vertically at the entrance of the vertical cutting unit SU. It is fed through the cutting guide 11 to the space between the pair of auxiliary transfer rollers 12, 12. The control unit CU detects the insertion of the paper 1 by the sensor 15'.

Then close the cover. The control unit CU detects that the cover is closed. After that, the main transport roller 3 is driven, the paper tip 1 (S) is pulled back to near the outlet of the printer main body PB, and the paper tip 1 (S) is detected by the sensor 15 at that position. The information on the tip position of the paper 1 is the information necessary for cutting the skin portion, which is one round of the dirty outer circumference of the paper 1.

After that, while executing the skew correction of the paper 1, the required position of the paper 1 is cut by the cross-cutting cutter 9 and the paper is discharged, and the preparation for printing is completed.

Skew correction control is performed according to the procedure according to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, the paper tip portion 1 (S) is moved into the vertical cutting unit SU by the main transport roller 3 (step S1), the auxiliary pinch roller 12b constituting the auxiliary transport roller 12 is brought down, and the transport roller 12a under the auxiliary pinch roller 12b is brought down. Paper 1 is sandwiched between and (step S2). Next, the main pinch roller 3b constituting the main transport roller 3 is raised (step S3), and the paper feed roller 2 is driven in the winding direction (step S4). As a result, the slack of the paper 1 located between the paper tip portion 1 (S) shown in FIG. 6A and the paper roll R is removed. At this time, small skews and slacks generated between the rollers can be removed, and the posture of the paper 1 can be corrected on a small scale.

After that, when the auxiliary pinch roller 12b is raised (step S6), the difference in the balance between the left and right tensions applied to the paper 1 is released, and the paper 1 is skewed by using the force to return to the correct position. Can be corrected. In order to utilize such a phenomenon, it is effective to stretch one paper at two points as far as possible, so it is effective to stretch the paper 1 between the paper tip 1 (S) and the paper roll R. It becomes. In particular, due to the presence of the narrow vertical cutting guide 11, when the paper 1 is stretched and the skew amount of the paper 1 is large, it becomes a fulcrum of the paper 1 or the auxiliary pinch roller 12b is raised even if the skew amount is small. It can also be expected to have the effect of suppressing the runout of the paper 1 when the paper 1 is used. After the skew correction, the main pinch roller 3b is brought down to move to the next transfer.

In this case, the main pinch roller may be lowered before the step S6 for raising the auxiliary pinch roller 12b (step S5). This is because even if the paper 1 is stretched at two points, the paper tip portion 1 (S) and the main transport roller 3, a sufficient distance can be secured to correct the skew.

As described above, the step of tensioning the paper 1 between the paper tip 1 (S) and the paper roll R (or between the paper tip 1 (S) and the main transport roller 3) to remove the slack is the paper. In order to correct the posture of 1 on a small scale, when the pinch roller 3b of the main transport roller 3 is brought down to continue printing, or when the paper tip portion 1 (S) is cut to prepare the paper tip. Can also be carried out. By performing such control, the integrated amount of skew for each operation can be reduced by repeating small-scale corrections that diligently reduce the influence of skew. As a result, it is possible to reduce the number of times the auxiliary transport roller 12 is opened and re-griped as described above.

After the execution of step S6, in order to cut the portion at a predetermined distance from the paper tip portion 1 (S), the cut portion is conveyed to the cutting position of the crossing cutter 9 and the cutting is executed. Before cutting, the paper 1 is conveyed by the main transfer roller 3 and the paper ejection roller 8, and the paper 1 after cutting is conveyed by the auxiliary transfer roller 12. In the present embodiment, the skin portion of the paper roll R is laterally cut in a plurality of times (6 times). After the sixth cut is completed, the pinch roller 12b of the auxiliary transfer roller 12 is raised after the horizontal cut is completed, and the main transfer roller 3 moves the paper 1 to the position of the sensor 15 for detecting the paper tip 1 (S). After that, steps S1 to S6 in FIG. 7 are executed to enter the print standby state.

After that, when the print command is input, the control unit CU starts the print operation.

The basic printing operation is to feed the paper 1 once fed from the paper roll R in the paper ejection direction (A direction in FIG. 1) in the printing direction (B direction in FIG. 1) opposite to the paper ejection direction by the main transport roller 3. Printing of Y, M, C, and OP is executed at the print position PL while being conveyed.

When printing is completed, vertical cut and horizontal cut are executed to complete printing of one print area. When vertical cutting is not performed, the vertical cutting process is omitted.

Further, in this printing process as well, the skew correction control described above is performed. In this embodiment, the control unit CU is configured to execute the above steps S1 to S6 every time printing of two print areas (for example, two print screens) is completed. Before and after the skew correction control, the paper tip portion 1 (S) is detected.

As described above, the printer of the present embodiment prints on the paper 1 at the printing position PL while sandwiching the paper 1 unwound from the paper roll R loaded in the paper feed roller 2 and transporting the paper 1 by the main transport roller 3. , The printer main body PB that cuts the printed paper 1 with the cross-cutting cutter 9 and ejects it, and the paper 1 in the ejection process is introduced via the vertical cutting guide 11 in the width direction and sandwiched by the auxiliary transport roller 12 while being sandwiched by the vertical cutting cutter. It has a vertical cutting unit SU for cutting at 13, and a control unit CU for controlling the printer main body PB and the vertical cutting unit SU.

Then, the control unit CU holds the paper 1 between the auxiliary transport rollers 12 and drives the paper feed roller 2 in the winding direction of the paper 1 with the main transport roller 3 open, whereby the paper tip portion 1 (S) It is configured to execute skew correction control for correcting the skew of the paper 1 by tensioning the slack of the paper 1 between the paper roll R and the paper roll R and releasing the auxiliary transport roller 12 from the tensioned state.

By doing so, the paper tip 1 (S) is positioned between the paper tip 1 (S) and the paper roll R in the vertical cutting guide 11 in a state where the paper tip 1 (S) is positioned in the width direction and fixed by the auxiliary transport roller 12. The slack of the paper 1 can be wound up by the paper roll R to make the paper 1 tense. After that, when the auxiliary transport roller 12 is opened, the difference in the balance between the left and right tensions applied to the paper 1 is released, and the skew is corrected by utilizing the force that the paper 1 tries to return to the correct position. be able to. In order to utilize such a phenomenon, it is effective to stretch the paper 1 at two points as far as possible, so it is effective to stretch the paper 1 between the paper tip 1 (S) and the paper roll R. Become. In particular, due to the presence of the narrow vertical cutting guide 11, when the paper 1 is stretched and the skew amount of the paper 1 is large, it becomes a fulcrum of the paper 1 or the auxiliary transfer roller 12 is opened even if the skew amount is small. It can also be expected to have the effect of suppressing the runout of the paper 1 when the paper 1 is used. Therefore, skew can be corrected even by using thick paper 1 having a large diameter, and the position accuracy of the slit formed by the vertical cutting cutter 13 in the width direction is improved to realize a highly accurate vertical cutting slit. be able to.

In particular, the paper feed roller 2 of the present embodiment is provided with a paper guide 2b at a position sandwiching both side surfaces of the paper roll R, and the paper feed roller 2 is equipped with a paper roll R having a diameter larger than that of the paper guide 2b. To.

Since the present embodiment can perform skew correction without relying on the paper guide 2b, skew correction is possible in principle without adopting the paper guide 2b at all. However, the skew correction function can be enhanced by making the paper guide 2b capable of positioning the paper roll R having a diameter or less in the width direction.

Further, in this printer, at the time of initial filling of the paper roll R, a preparatory operation for cutting the skin portion corresponding to the outer circumference of the paper 1 is performed, and the skew correction control is executed in the preparatory operation.

Since it is most likely that the feeding position from the paper roll R is skewed at the time of initial filling, it is effective to apply the skew correction control of the present embodiment in the preparatory operation.

Further, in this printer, color printing on one print area is performed by transporting the paper 1 in the forward and reverse directions a plurality of times, and skew correction control is executed every time color printing on a plurality of print areas is completed. .. Of course, the skew correction control may be executed after each printing on one printing area is completed.

In the color printing process, skew may occur even when the paper 1 reciprocates, so it is effective to apply the skew correction control of the present embodiment in the printing process.

Further, in this printer, the drive system of the vertical cutting unit SU is independent of the drive system of the printer main body PB, and the control unit CU requires the drive system of the vertical cutting unit SU and the drive system of the printer main body PB by control. It is configured to synchronize.

By using an independent drive system in this way, the vertical cutting unit SU can be mounted on an existing printer in a space-saving and inexpensive manner. Then, as a secondary effect of driving the vertical cutting unit SU and the printer main body PB independently, it is possible to realize the skew correction operation of the present embodiment. In other words, if the drive system of the vertical cutting unit SU is connected to the drive system of the printer main body PB, the skew correction of the present embodiment cannot be realized or it is necessary to intervene a special mechanism. Such concerns are no longer necessary.

Further, the vertical cutting unit SU of this printer is retrofitted to the printer main body PB.

Even if it is retrofitted in this way, or because it is retrofitted, the drive system is inevitably independent. In other words, it is easy to realize skew correction by software because it is retrofitted.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the specific configuration of each part is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

1 ... Paper 2 ... Paper feed roller 2b ... Paper guide 3 ... Main transport roller 9 ... Horizontal cutting cutter 11 ... Vertical cutting guide 12 ... Auxiliary transport roller 13 ... Vertical cutting cutter A1 ... Printed area CU ... Control unit PB ... Printer body PL ... Printing position R ... Paper roll SU ... Vertical cutting unit

Claims (5)

A printer body that holds the paper unwound from the paper roll loaded in the paper feed roller, prints on the paper at the printing position while transporting it with the main transport roller, cuts the printed paper with a cross-cutting cutter, and ejects it. A printer having a vertical cutting unit that introduces paper in the ejection process via a vertical cutting guide in the width direction and cuts it with a vertical cutting cutter while sandwiching it with an auxiliary transport roller, and a control unit that controls these printers and the vertical cutting unit. And
By holding the paper between the auxiliary transport rollers and driving the paper feed roller in the paper winding direction in a state where the main transport rollers are open, the control unit holds the paper between the paper tip and the paper roll. A printer characterized in that it is configured to perform skew correction control that corrects paper skew by tensioning the slack and releasing the auxiliary transport roller from the tensioned state. A claim for maintaining the tension state of the paper when the auxiliary transport roller is opened by driving the paper feed roller in the winding direction of the paper to tension the paper and then sandwiching the paper with the main transport roller. Item 1. The printer according to Item 1. The first or second aspect of the present invention, wherein the paper feed roller is provided with a paper guide at a position sandwiching both sides of the paper roll, and a paper roll having a diameter larger than that of the paper guide is mounted on the paper feed roller. Printer. When color printing on one print area is performed by transporting the paper a plurality of times in the forward and reverse directions, the skew correction control is performed every time color printing on one print area is completed or to a plurality of print areas. The printer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is executed every time the color printing of the above is completed. The printer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the vertical cutting unit is retrofitted to the printer main body.

Images